Over the last five years, Dr. Chris Casso has seen more patients in the Rio Grande Valley show up for their medical appointments when they don’t have to visit in person, but can instead join remotely via a phone or video call. 

“It really did improve some continuity of care, increased access to care, especially for patients that have difficulty getting to the doctor, they don’t have transportation, they’re older, they have mobility problems,” said Casso, a family medicine physician who works for a South Texas Health System clinic in McAllen. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, very few patients would even ask for a telemedicine visit; it was only those with severely debilitating diseases who would use a phone system, she said. 

But during COVID-19, about 4.5 million Texans used telemedicine for the first time, according to a 2020 survey conducted by the global consulting business Accenture.